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East head coach Michel Cooper, of the Atlanta Dream, talks with Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever during the first half of the WNBA All-Star basketball game, Saturday, July 19, 2014, in Phoenix. The East won 125-124 in overtime. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Atlanta Dream coach Michael Cooper has tongue cancer

The Associated Press – published Monday, July 21, 2014

ATLANTA | Atlanta Dream coach Michael Cooper has early stage tongue cancer and has taken a leave from the WNBA team.

He will have surgery this week at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in Atlanta and a full recovery is expected, the Dream said Monday.

The 58-year-old coach is expected to miss about two weeks, with assistant coach Karleen Thompson filling in. Atlanta plays at Minnesota on Tuesday.

“I’m fortunate that my condition was diagnosed early, and this episode illustrates the importance of screening and early detection,” Cooper said. “I know the team will be in good hands with coach Thompson at the helm during my absence, and I look forward to returning to the court soon.”

Cooper is in his first season with Atlanta. His team leads the Eastern Conference with a 15-6 record. He coached the East to a 125-124 overtime victory at the WNBA All-Star game Saturday.

Cooper won five NBA titles as a shooting guard with the Los Angeles Lakers during the “Showtime” era from 1978-90. As a coach, he won two WNBA titles with the Los Angeles Sparks and one NBA Development League championships with Albuquerque.

After his second run with the Sparks, Cooper was hired as the women’s coach at Southern California. He resigned in March following an 11-20 season, his first losing mark in four seasons.